2021 Cinq Elus pinot noir
There is no sales tax on orders shipped to Oregon addresses.
This is our finest wine from our finest fruit, made only in exceptional vintages. Our winemaker Steve Lutz selected the single best barrel of each our the five pinot noir clones on our vineyard -- the Pommard clone, and Dijon clones 114, 115, 667, and 777. The five clones are blended in equal proportions, and we feel that the resulting medley of aromatics and flavors is unsurpassed.
Individual clone contributions include the silkiness and balance of 777, the tropical fruit and smoothness of 115, the spice and body of 667, the bright red-fruit and acidity of the 114, and the bold black cherry of the Pommard clone. The final wine always shows a concentrated depth of flavor and complexity that matches wonderfully to food, with the lighter or heavier notes coming forth to form a medley with a wide variety of dishes
"Cinq elus" is pronounced "sink-elu," it roughly translates to the "five selected" or the "five chosen" in French.
Vintage Notes
The 2021 growing season was long and hot, with a larger than average fruit set that paired beautifully with the lengthy ripening season. We saw a record heat bubble in late June with temps over 114 degrees! Thankfully that happened in June and not August, and the tiny grapes were not impacted by the brief event. The rest of the summer was hot, but not excessively, and we saw our typical cooling in September, allowing for longer hang time. On the whole it was one of the best vintages in the history of the Willamette Valley.
Our 2021 pinots are bold and fruit-forward, but even young, they show excellent balance with tannic structure and acidity on the finish.
An exceptional wine when young, we strongly recommend giving our Cinq Elus at least a few years in the cellar, and it will graciously mature for 10-15 years or longer.
